PPAB offers the only Accredited Training Technician and Professional Canine Trainer certification for professionals who believe there is no place for shock, choke, prong, fear or intimidation in canine training and behavior practices. PPAB also offers the only psychometrically developed examination for Training & Behavior Consultants who also support these humane and scientific practices

The Pet Professional Accreditation Board Guiding Principles

The Guiding Principles

PPAB's Vission, Mission, Values, Pledge, Professional Ethics and Key Values are refereed to as "The Guiding Principles"

The Pet Professional Accreditation Board is independent of any industry school, trade school, college or credentialing body. Applicants who pass the accreditation requirements earn specific titles which may be used after their names. All accredited professionals must adhere to the organization's Guiding Principles, a collection of professional ethics and non-negotiablebusiness practices. Key to this accreditation program is that credentialed professionals understand force-free to mean, no shock, no choke, no pain, no fear, no physical force, no compulsion based methods are employed to train or care for a pet” It is also the belief that experienced trainers must begin their behavior change programs with the least invasive and least aversive training protocols necessary to change the problematic behavior. Accredited professionals operate within these "Guiding Principles"

Section One Non-Negotiables.

To be eligible for accreditation and to maintain an accreditation applicants and certificants must adhere to a strict code of conduct. The understanding of force free is:

No shock, No pain, No choke, No fear, No physical force, No compulsion based methods are employed to train or care for a pet.

Definition of Force

Any definition can never be so expansive and explicit that every possible situation is addressed. This is seen everywhere in life and most obviously in the US legal system where very often courts cannot agree on a single interpretation of what terms and definitions mean, including physical force.

Recognizing this we understand, in the context of our guiding principles and as a general framework, physical force to mean “any intentional physical act against a pet that causes psychological or physical pain, harm or damage to the pet.”

Equipment

Certain equipment is covered above in our Non-Negotiables. Clearly the use of many (most?) harnesses, head halters, collars (non-choking) and leashes would not be considered physical force under this guiding definition if 1) they are used consistent with our guiding principles, 2) they are used as intended and designed and 3) they are not used in a way that is contrary to their design and intent, i.e. not used in a manner which would cause psychological or physical pain, harm or damage.

Section Two Professional Ethics

We always hold the pet’s welfare as our top priority. The pet is the vulnerable component in the consultation process as they cannot offer informed consent.

The professionals’ role is one that is beneficial to the pet and never to its detriment. Always seek to do no harm.

Do not condone or endorse any treatment by a pet’s owner that is physically or mentally cruel. We will opt out of a consulting agreement rather than attempt to manage an unethical course of action.

We only consult with clients who offer cases that we have the professional competence to deal with.

We only use procedures, protocols and training tools that are empirically based and have a proven track record.

We always consider communications with our clients privileged. We will only break that confidentiality if a pet is being abused and the client cannot be dissuaded from using their current approach. We always act according to local and state laws in terms of reporting animal cruelty.

We recognize that the pet’s owner is responsible for their pet and the owner has the right to make decisions about the professional treatment of their pet.

Ensure all communications are professional and based in fact. When discussing industry practices, trends or issues, members will limit discussion to practices and consequences rather than the individuals using them thereby ensuring informed, professional and civil exchanges that enrich members and the industry of force-free pet professionals.

Apply the following ethical principles to each situation you encounter: